Grants of up to $5,000 have been awarded based on financial need and are intended to encourage all departments to participate in certification, training and health/wellness programs to prevent emergency responder deaths and injuries.

VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company recently awarded grants of up to $5,000 to 71 emergency responder organizations across Texas. Funds awarded through the 2016 Emergency Responder Safety, Training & Wellness Grant Program totaled more than $150,000 and will enable these organizations to participate in a certification program, attend critical workplace safety training, and implement training/wellness programs to prevent on-duty deaths and injuries.

Over $600,000 in grant requests were received. VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company partnered with the State Firefighters' & Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas (SFFMA) to manage the application process and select the grant recipients.

“Cardiac events are the leading cause of death among firefighters,” said Martin Ritchey, President of Mid-County Volunteer Fire Department. “Our department wants to be an example for our region in stressing the importance of fitness. We presently lack funds to provide the necessary equipment to achieve our fitness goals. Your grant dollars will be used along with our funds and “sweat equity” to build out a training space at our station #2. Without your funding we could not afford to acquire the equipment necessary for this important task."

Each recipient submitted an application outlining a specific need or project the grant would fund. This is the third consecutive year Texas Mutual and VFIS of Texas have awarded these grants to emergency responders across the state.

“These grants directly impact our emergency responders by improving their safety and wellness, better preparing them to serve our communities,” Barbara Marzean, President of VFIS of Texas, said. “The more we can do to support safety, training and wellness for these emergency service organizations, the more we can reduce and prevent emergency responder injuries and deaths.”

Grantees will be recognized at the SFFMA Annual Conference June 25-29, 2016 in McAllen, Texas.

AUSTIN, TX – VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company recently awarded grants of up to $5,000 to 86 volunteer fire departments across Texas. Funds awarded through the Firefighter Safety, Training & Wellness Grant Program totaled more than $144,000 and will enable these departments to participate in a certification program, attend critical workplace safety training, and/or set up training/wellness programs to prevent firefighter deaths and injuries.

Over $300,000 in grant requests were received. VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company partnered with the State Firefighters' & Fire Marshals’ Association of Texas (SFFMA) to manage the application process and select the grant recipients.

“This award will serve as valuable funding that will enable us to better serve our community,” said Dennis Bailey, Lieutenant & Training Coordinator of Sunset Volunteer Fire Department. “This grant, I can assure you, will allow our members to actively pursue formal certification that will develop them into safer firefighters. Thanks again for your contribution to making our community safer."

To see a full list of 2015 Safety, Training & Wellness recipients, CLICK HERE.

Grantees will be recognized at the SFFMA Conference June 12-17, 2015 in Galveston, Texas.

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